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There’s lots of buzz surrounding the upcoming solar eclipse on Monday, August 21. If you’re as excited about it as we are and are looking for locations to view this solar sensation, we’ve compiled a list of a few places around town holding events.

Orlando

Dr. Phillips Center – August 21, 12-4:30 pm
The green space in front of the downtown performing-arts theater, Seneff Arts Plaza, will be host to an Orlando Science Center pop-up location offering free viewing glasses while supplies last and education information as the eclipse takes place.

Orlando Science Center – August 21, 1-4 pm
Included with general admission, the Orlando Science Center will host a special viewing event complete with eclipse glasses, solar telescope filters, special solar eclipse demos and presentations, crafts, and art activities. You’ll also be able to make a phone filter for getting photos of the eclipse.

Seminole State College – August 21, noon-4:30pm
The Buehler Planetarium will host a free viewing event on the front sidewalk of the Automotive Technology building on campus. Short presentations will be given on the eclipse, including a presentation on the science behind eclipses. Free glasses will be provided for viewing the eclipse. Maximum eclipse viewing will occur around 2:51pm. In the days leading up to the event, visit the planetarium for a special new show, “Eclipse” which will be showing six times from August 11-19, 2017. More details can be found on their Facebook event page.

Leesburg

Leesburg Public Library – August 21, 1:30 pm
You can enjoy the solar eclipse at the Leesburg Public Library. This event is free and starts at 1:00. Free eclipse glasses will be available on the day of the event. Visit their website to stay tuned for more details of the event.

Groveland

Marion Baysinger Memorial County Library – August 21, 1:30 pm
Eclipse viewing will take place at the Marion Baysinger Memorial County Library starting at 1:30 pm. Leave your ID/library card at their circulation desk to use NASA-approved glasses for viewing in 20 minute increments. You’ll also be able to enjoy live indoor streaming.

Lake Wales

Bok Tower Gardens – August 21, 1pm
The Gardens provide one of the highest locations in Central Florida for viewing. Visit their website for pricing information

Ocala

Marion County Public Library, Headquarters – August 21, 1 pm
The Marion County Public Library is holding The Great American Eclipse Party at 1 pm on Monday August 21. This event is for ages 13 and up, with viewing glasses provided. You’ll enjoy the film “Little Shop of Horrors” along with eclipse themed snacks.

Longwood

Wekiva Island – August 21, 2:30 pm
Wekiva Island will be providing free viewing glasses and Kona Brewing drafts will be on special for $3. Plan to be there right when the event starts so you don’t miss out on the maximum eclipse viewing time around 2:51 pm.

New Smyrna Beach

New Smyrna Beach Library – August 21, 1 pm
Watch the total eclipse live streamed by NASA while making crafts, or head outside to view the eclipse with free glasses from the library (while supplies last). The partial eclipse will begin in NSB at 1:14 pm and maximum eclipse viewing will take place around 2:51pm. This event is free and open to the public and no registration is required.

Titusville

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex – August 21, 11 am
Parkgoers at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will be able to experiencethe partial eclipse from the Rocket Garden and watch the total eclipse on LED screens.

Visitors to the park on August 21 will receive solar glasses at the front entrance with general admission. Starting at 11 a.m. NASA’s eclipse live stream coverage will be broadcast from the Rocket Garden.

Kid-friendly activities, such as creating sun spotters, will also be set up in the garden.

Make sure to purchase special eclipse glasses if you can still find them, just in case these events run out. You will need them at all times in order to safely view the eclipse. The eclipse is occurring on a Monday, so if you’ll be at work you can still join the fun. NASA will be live streaming the full eclipse at https://www.nasa.gov/eclipselive.

Summer is here, and for most, that means vacation time! Many people travel out of town, or even out of the country, but if you’re on a budget, indulging in a “staycation” may be just the thing for you. In case you’re wondering, a staycation is when you stay in your own city or state and take day trips to local attractions. Here in Florida, there are so many activities to choose from the possibilities are endless. And you can do it all without breaking the bank. We’ve put together a few ideas for you to get your staycation started.

Stop by the beach. Florida is known for its beaches. What would summer be without a trip to one of our sandy shorelines? If you don’t know where to start, make a game out of it. Make a list of all the beaches in the state you want to visit and assign them a number. Put all of the numbers in a hat, shake it up and pull one out. Whichever beach was assigned that number is your next staycation spot. “Sea” you later!

Visit one of Florida’s many state or national parks. They are filled with tremendous beauty, adventures and new discoveries. Best of all— they’re affordable! Entrance fees to most Florida state and national parks are less than $10. There are about 11 national parks, 160 state parks, and a number of preservation and recreation areas for you to choose from. So you might want to do a little advance planning. Besides the awesome sights, national and state parks are an awesome place to picnic or even camp overnight. So pack up your tents, gather ingredients for s’mores and head out to enjoy nature. Click here to find a park near you!

Get discounted tickets to amusement parks. Most Orlando area theme parks have Florida resident discounts as well as promotions where you pay for one day and get in free the rest of the year! Take advantage of the Florida resident discount to enhance your staycation, and continue the fun for the rest of the year. Click here for a list of Florida resident discounts from Visit Orlando. An added bonus – as an Insight Credit Union member you get discounted tickets to Legoland. Cool, right?!

Catch up on some reading. Find a cute little park, coffee shop or bookstore and let yourself get lost in a good book. This can help with relaxation and transport your mind to another place. You can even take a book to that beach you decided to go to.

Attend a local sporting event. Whether it’s baseball, soccer, golf, bull riding or wrestling, Central Florida has plenty of sporting event options to take advantage of. Get the family out for a fun-filled evening to one of the many Florida Collegiate Summer League baseball games. If you are more of a soccer fan, be sure to check out an Orlando City soccer game! For other exciting sporting events this summer, check out the list that Visit Orlando has compiled for more details.

Visit local museums. History and art museums can be found all over Florida. They may even be a museum celebrating the history of your own city. This is a great activity for both adults and children. You can have fun and learn something all at the same time. Botanical gardens, zoos, and farms that let you pick your own fruit are also great ideas for some summertime fun, not to mention they’re a hit with the little ones.

We hope these ideas can help you maximize your staycation without maxing out your budget! Do you have a favorite staycation spot? We would love to hear more about it! Share with us in the comments below.

*This is an updated version of a post originally published on July 28, 2014.

It may seem like school just ended, but the first day back will be here before you know it. We know school is probably the last thing on your mind, but we believe it’s never too early to start collecting supplies. Here at Insight Credit Union we want to get a head start on giving students the tools they need to succeed for the upcoming school year! Keep reading for more information.

How long will you be taking donations?
We will be collecting supplies in Orange, Seminole, Volusia, Lake, Marion, Citrus and Sumter Counties until July 29, 2017.

Whatsupplies are needed?

Pens and Pencils

Staples

Binders and Dividers

Backpacks

Crayons and Colored Pencils

Calculators

Markers

Paper Clips

Highlighters

Index Cards

Glue Sticks

Erasers

Scissors

And more!

Who will benefit from the supply drive?
Proceeds will benefit Central Florida schools and charities, including United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties, United Way of Citrus County, Lake County Schools through the Red for Ed initiative, the Marion County Education Foundation, Howard Middle School and A Gift for Teaching.

We enjoy giving back to the community and want you to join us in helping kids go back to school confident and ready to learn!

Florida is a vacation destination for a reason. From theme parks to beaches, we really have it all. As a local or tourist, the expense of enjoying Central Florida can really add up. So we’ve put together some fun, inexpensive activities the whole family can enjoy! You may even see us volunteering or giving out some goodies at many of these events too!

Orange County

Sports – Football! And I’m not talking about European Football, though it’s still a great sport. (Go Orlando City!) I’m talking about American Football. You might be thinking, “Football in June?” Yes! Check out the undefeated Orlando Predators Arena Football Team at the Amway Center!

4th of July – Don’t miss Fireworks at the Fountain in Downtown Orlando! Gather around Lake Eola for live music, children’s activities, food and more before the spectacular fireworks show at 9pm.

Et al ­– There is a ton of events going on all over Orange County, from Hunters Creek to Winter Park. Click each city to find local community events that will make you, your family and your wallet happy: Hunter’s Creek , Orlando, Winter Garden and Winter Park.

Seminole County

Food – If you’re like many of us here at Insight, you really enjoy food. Why not take a trip out to downtown Sanford and enjoy the Food Bazaar? You may need to bring a chair for this one, but you can also bring your dog to enjoy an evening out.

Music & Festivals – From Daytona to DeLand, Volusia has a wide variety of events. You can enjoy the Watermelon Festival in Deland the first weekend of June or head to Daytona later in the month for the Annual Juneteenth Family Festival. You can also catch a Jazz Concert in August. Click here to learn more!

Lake County

Sports – The Villages has a new soccer team, the Villages Soccer Club! If you’re looking for a great time, come join us at a game! If baseball is more your style, check out a Leesburg Lightning game.

Summer Nights – The City of Leesburg is putting on a series of events called Lake Front Nights that features gourmet food trucks and live bands right on Ski Beach! This series begins in June and ends in September. You can also catch a movie and delicious food at the monthly Food & Flick nights in downtown Leesburg! Click here for even more summer events in Lake County!

National Night Out in Clermont is this August! This community-building campaign promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, better places to live. It’s a great event and everything is FREE!

Fun in the Sun – Are you into classic cars? Check out the monthly Classic Car Show in Eustis! You can also enjoy the monthly Street Party!

Marion County

Music & Festivals – Ocala may be horse country, but they definitely know how to throw a festival. If you prefer two wheels with your engine, check out the Ocala Bike Fest! There are also a few upcoming concerts that you can enjoy for very a reasonable price.

Summer Nights – Imagine being under the stars, surrounded by oak trees, sitting in a lawn chair, eating home cooked meals and listening to music, stories, and poems by the locals. Music Under the Oaks at The Farm is an awesome put luck and open mic night you don’t want to miss!

Premature birth is the #1 killer of babies. March of Dimes is dedicated to changing that statistic and giving every baby a fighting chance. Money raised through March for Babies supports programs that help moms have healthy, full-term pregnancies, and funds research to find causes and preventions.

For the second year in a row, Insight is supporting healthy babies in Lake and Sumter County by raising money for March for Babies. Help us make a difference by making a donation! Visit any of our branches in Lake County: Leesburg, Lady Lake, Eustis or Clermont.

You can also support us the day of the walk. Join our Insight volunteers at the Lake/Sumter March for Babies on Saturday, May 7 at 8:00am at South Lake Hospital’s National Training Center in Clermont. Click here for more information on this year’s walk.

Leesburg’s calendar is jam packed with fun events for the holidays, including the Festival of Trees, Holiday Concert Series and Christmas Wine Walk!

Light Up Clermont is December 3 – 5. This is a “can’t miss” event for those in the South Lake area. Enjoy holiday music, a tree lighting ceremony and much more!

Marion CountyThe City of Ocala has some great holiday events lined up! (Hint: check out their skating rink!) Click here to learn more.

Orange County
Lake Eola Park is packed with events this holiday season, including Holiday Movie in the Park, What’s Up Downtown for the Holidays and the Tree Lighting Celebration. Check out the details here.

Seminole County
The Big Bang Bazaar on December 6 is a sure bet for the creative artists out there! Bring the whole family out to enjoy handmade arts and crafts and more.

On December 12, Children ages 12 and under can enjoy An Afternoon with Santa at Magnolia Park. The evening also features face painting, cookies, crafts, games and more! (This one costs $4 per child, but adults are free.)

Volusia County
On December 5, Check out the annual Christmas Parade put on by the City of Deltona! Click here for details.

Insight is proud to once again support the United States Marine Corps Reserve in their 2015 Toys for Tots campaign. Each year, our local Marines bring hope and holiday cheer to less fortunate families by providing toys for children throughout Central Florida.

Help us share the joy this holiday season! Simply bring a new, unwrapped toy to any of our 17 branches by Saturday, December 12. We’ll make sure your donations are brought to the appropriate location for delivery to a well-deserving child in time for Christmas.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a difficult time, you can request a toy on the Toys for Tots website. Click on “Request A Toy” and follow the instructions to find the Toys for Tots campaign in your local area.

Did you know that Insight is a proud supporter of the arts? For a number of years, we’ve sponsored many different theatres and performing arts centers around Central Florida. We know art is a powerful tool to help educate and enrich our communities. Check out all the great programs Insight is supporting this year!

Garden Theatre in Winter Garden
Insight is a Supporting Sponsor all season long! We are pleased to offer our members a 10% discount on tickets when purchased online. Enter the code ICU at checkout. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets!

Clermont Performing Arts Center
The CPAC made its debut this year in September! Because Insight is the Presenting Sponsor of this inaugural season, members of the credit union receive 10% off tickets to any show in the Performance Hall (main stage) when purchased 45 days in advance of the show (limit two tickets per show per household). Simply use the promo code ICU to receive your discount. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets!

Melon Patch Theatre in Leesburg
Insight is once again a Title and Supporting Sponsor at this fabulous Lake County theatre! You can often find Insight volunteers lending a helping hand and enjoying the show. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets!

Insight also supports the performing arts series at both Lake-Sumter State College and the College of Central Florida! Wherever you are in Central Florida, there are plenty of theatres and performing art centers for you to visit. We hope to see you there this season!